Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1887-04-30
SELF OR BEARER"
By WALTER BEsANT.
Author of "AU Sorts and Conditions Of
Men, "Ihe Captain 8 Room" etc.

AtttHo' o. "AH Sorts tho Conditions OF
Men, "1he Captain $ Roona,'' etc.
MI. Murrldge went into tne outer NICE.
The private dl aver contained nothing but a
few u%nimportant papers The drawer. in
deed, might just as well have boon unlocked.
for the forged checks and the check book.
which Dick said were left there on Saturday
had disappeared.
Who has been in this office, boy,n asked
MI. Murridge, besides yourself, since Sat-
urday"
"only Miss Cronan, sir and Mr.. Richard
TODAY, sir. Nobody came yesterday, sir.n
What time did you leave the place on
Saturday.
Not till three o'clock, sir. Miss Cronan
was with You when you brought me out the
letters to copy and to post"
Moran was working with me on Satur-
day afternoon said Mr.. Murridge, until
four o'clock. Iremember. Then she went
away. i worked here alone till six Have
you a bunch Of keys at all, you boyr'
mo. sir; l haven't got anything to lock
up. Search me, if you like"
Have you seen Mr.. Richards drawer
standing open! 1do1't want to search YOU.
What the devil should l search you forp'
mo. Sir. The drawer is never open that I
know of. except Mr.. Richards in his char.n
Have you ever tried to open that drawer
yourself, with a key or wilhoutr
No, sir. He always locks it. And I
haven't got no keys. And why should l
want to open Mr.. Richards drawerl'
There's villainy somewhere" Mr.. Muir
ridge breathed hard, and put his hands in
his pockets: "Villainy somewhere. I'll get
to The bottom of this"
.kTL-
The vanishing OF the checks" said Dick,
seems to crown the whole thing"
what do you meant asked his father,
roughly
DICK showed his key.
You see, it is quite a common key. Any
BODY with a good dig bunch of keys could
open the drawer. Perhaps, even-such
things do happen-when the key vas TUNED
tne bolt fell back n the drawer was open.
What did you give me the checks fort They
were no use to me-not the least use."
Mr. Murrldge grunted. The checks could
not, under any circumstances have been of
they We're gone, PERTAINS lost altooether
why u was now become a forgery without
"nat the French call the pieces of convic-
un. Who can prove a forgery wher shere
s no document before the court. Nj. MUIR
ridge retired to his own Office, followed bv
his son.
Look here, Dick" he said. "this thing ia
getting more complicated, I must think IL
over You've done your share. Leave it to
me-"
you needn't 90 Investigating or inouir.
ing, or anything" said his son: won NAV
entirely depend on Il" truth Of my facts.
Start from them"
Perhaps. Yes; we'll. I've nothing for
you at til, office. Dick. Go and take a holt.
day; nmuse yourself somehow-as Won like
to anus yourself. Bu., mind, not a word
to any ,.ody-not a syllable. Not a breath
Of what you've old me either to Norah or
to her brother. This paper and the accu.
sation it contains belong to mo-. Do Won
hold your tongue about the matter. Let no
one suspect"
Dick desired nothing so much as complat
oblivion and the burial of the whole husi.
ness. He said so, in fact,
But what shall YOU do next7n he asked.
THAT is nv business ONLY hold vour
tongue and leave The rest of the casa In
me-"
1T has come" said the office bow watch.
ing. Ills done sonetb;ng -. Ios. Has
ordered to leave the office in DISGRACE I
knew be would do something: and I've got
something more, and | shall make him
wriggle. He thinks he won't be found ont
Hol I'm a mea " little devil. and she's n
sapphire. Its some,h hing agains; her. is iii
Just you wait. The .ofics bow has n eve
open"
Mr.. Murridge went back to his own Office
and sat down gloomy and wrathful Ho
left his door wide open. and the nov sittino
at his own table, his hands on the handle Of
the letter press, watched him carefully.
wondering whether the time wa, vet ar.
rived for him to step in. But for snch a lad
to IS ,ep inn befor4 the right moment MIGHT
endanger everything. Smnnose If hv reason
of premature steppin9 in instead n sae,n,
NJ. p;,L.S. rpIA ~ .s'o u eeeinS
to do al tha w r.as,n no ni, x ninssi! naSe
ont If his horth +his 10 suo Iu'a
to him when he went .or,a 10. sa.y nappcn
n fallowsbin nortou = ~ w. 'eAns
All this tpnS 49,, 'a ~ aihL
thino in t,e 'norn;na " t.n oolo.h. .ne n.s'
nost +an W. ~ was over ~ nait-
CANA a. rs,o, ~, . 80. ocloIA' MORAN
tino AL H. ~ ounu { empower sne-
aafe ros s+;i H.. -" "eie uuopeneo, hs
49, 80" ' ne enu.: nis papers were not lad
commanao5 ""S "o'A was nos YET
.tIvlsn,,
tar "; ~ y v,teu so,an; -wnat Is the mat
How wa az you IL,
of SUNSHINE Lo. -. .isn' ns! iace so l9n
ho,ai.ssa n.. 'ocN : raola"5 win tna
NJ Ma - anu ioVe tnat
~. 49, 80 sloaueo a1ouo' wondering
..u,on ..s eouu oe p'ssio'e.
hot. 81 ,.;m W. sau, ~ u SAID taxing MS
naeA Al lew minutes.